Asking the Questions

It is recommended that the six questions from the WG-SS G are read separately and in the exact way they are written, including the response options after each question. For example, Do you have difficulty walking or climbing steps? Would you say: 

1. No difficulty.
2. Some difficulty.
3. A lot of difficulty.
4. Cannot do at all.

Respondents may become familiar with the answer categories after the first few questions, therefore, the recommendation to repeat the categories can be relaxed.  This is most likely to occur when the questions are asked of multiple people in the same household. If respondents provide responses using the correct answer categories, the categories do not need to be repeated after every question. However, they should be repeated as soon as the respondent fails to use the required category (e.g., responds “yes”) or after the third or fourth question. It is important that enumerators are trained in when it is appropriate not to read the answer categories.

If time and space permit, it may be preferable to split the two sensory questions, as in the WG-ES-F. For example, First, ask:

Do you wear glasses? 

1. Yes
2. No

Depending on the answer, then ask:

If Yes: Do you have difficulty seeing even when wearing your glasses?

If No: Do you have difficulty seeing?  

Followed by the four response options.

The WG questions should not be combined into a single question. For example, it is not good practice to ask: “Do you have difficulty seeing or hearing, or walking or climbing steps?”  Often, respondents will either forget the list of activities or believe they must have difficulties in all those areas to answer positively. Furthermore, if a person has some difficulty seeing but is unable to walk, it will be difficult for them to determine what response category is relevant to them.